Proteas send Zimbabwe home

Openers Amla and Levi knock off the runs with 44 balls to spare

Jacques Kallis: celebrates one of his four wickets as Zimbabwe laboured to 93-8

Craig Ervine: top scored with 37 from 40 balls, including four boundaries

Zimbabwe's stay at the ICC World Twenty20 proved a brief one as they suffered a crushing 10-wicket defeat at the hands of South Africa.

Having already lost to host nation Sri Lanka by 84 runs on opening night, Zimbabwe were only able to manage 93-8 from their 20 overs after being asked to bat first in Hambantota.

Craig Ervine provided the majority of his side's runs, top scoring with 37 from 40 deliveries before becoming one of four victims for Jacques Kallis.

Only one other Zimbabwean made it into double figures, Stuart Matsikenyeri the man to do so with 11, as they were never able to break the shackles imposed by South Africa's seamers.

Remarkable figures

Morne Morkel picked up 2-16 while new-ball partner Dale Steyn finished with remarkable figures of 1-9 from his four overs on a lively pitch.

Zimbabwe managed just six boundaries in their innings, Ervine providing four of them. Their meagre score means they are heading home before some teams have even made their first appearance in this year's tournament.

Kallis, the last of six bowlers to be used by South Africa skipper AB de Villiers, dismissed Matsikenyeri and Elton Chigumbura with successive deliveries to leave the score at 51-5.

His other two victims both came courtesy of catches behind the stumps by De Villiers, the second of which was a superb diving effort after Prosper Utseya had gloved a short ball, as the 36-year-old finished with 4-15, his best ever bowling figures in the shortest form of the game.

South Africa's run chase was a procession, Hashim Amla and Richard Levi guiding them over the line with the small matter of 44 deliveries to spare.

Amla did receive one let-off, Vusi Sibanda spilling a tough chance at backward point, although by then the game was already over as a contest.

He would finish up unbeaten on 32 from 33 balls, happy to play second fiddle as opening partner Levi hit an even 50 not out that included six boundaries.